Trio of great horned owls to be returned to the nest

A trio of owlets are hoping to return home. (Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA)

With a little bit of luck, three great horned owl nestlings will be reunited with their parents tonight, April 17, giving them the best chance to become great, great horned owls.

The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, with help from San Mateo County park rangers and a local arborists, are attempting to re-nest the trio of owlets, which have been in the Humane Society’s care for several days.

A park ranger found the birds on the ground, near the base of a eucalyptus tree in one of the San Jose area county parks. The owlets weren’t harmed and officials believe their nest simply fell apart.

Young orphaned owls generally spend up to four months in care before they are mature enough to be released on their own. They receive excellent care, but there’s nothing like getting care from owl parents. When re-nesting is an option, that’s the best way to go. Re-nesting allows the owlets to learn to hunt and avoid predators, recognize noises, and recognize natural food items.

The Humane Society believes the parents are still nearby and will welcome their babies back home. It is a myth that wild birds won’t accept their young if they detect a human scent or believe that humans have handled them.

The plan is to have the arborist gently place the owlets into a new nest, 30 to 40 feet up into the tree. Volunteers will monitor the area for signs of the parents; the re-nesting will only be successful if the parents return quickly.

To help with that, volunteers will play a recording of an artificial owlet cry to lure the parents back. If there are no sign of them within 24 hours, the nestlings will be retrieved and placed back into care to begin the human-led development process.

“This is truly a group effort,” says PHS/SPCA Wildlife Supervisor Patrick Hogan. “In addition to our shelter volunteers, San Mateo County Park Rangers Ryan Lundgaard and Lisa DiLorenzo have been incredibly supportive and a local arborist, Juan Alvarez of JGA Tree Services, is volunteering his time.”

PHS/SPCA cares for a few dozen owls each year among the 4,000 or so annual wildlife rehabilitation patients. The animals are cared for at the Society’s Center for Compassion in Burlingame. If residents have found an animal and are wondering if that animal needs human intervention, they can call 650/340-7022, ext. 314.